Study In Australia

Australia, the land of Kangaroos, has attracted the third largest number of the international students to come and study in Australia. Every year, around 400, 000 overseas students get educated from Australian universities, colleges, and institutes. There could be hundreds of reasons behind these unbeatable figures. However, spectacular nature view, beautiful infrastructure, and peaceful climate are undeniable reasons behind its popularity as one of the most desirable studies abroad destinations among overseas students. So, before you get the study visa for Australia land in this beautiful country, you might be excited to know more about the lifestyle and climate in this country. Let’s go further.

Australia is a country of endless opportunities and incredible beauty. A natural wonderland of sublime glamour, breathtaking beaches, incredible ancient rock formations, crystal blue waters and pristine rainforests, Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world and has the lowest population density per square kilometer. The majority of Australia’s atypical flora and fauna can be found nowhere else in the world and the lifestyle is surely one-of-its-kinds. The Capital of Australia is Canberra which is another beautiful state of the country.

Australian Capital Territory: The youngest of Australia States and Territory legislatures is the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Territory and not a State. It is the home of Canberra, the Australian Capital.

Northern Territory: The Northern Territory, Territory and not a State, has Darwin as its Capital. It is highly celebrated for Uluru, earlier popular as the Ayres Rock. This ancient monolith is purely spellbinding and a treat to the human senses. It captures the imagination and leaves the visitors mesmerized; that too with a deep sense of wonder they hardly experienced ever.

New South Wales: Recognized as the home to Sydney, New South Wales is one of the most charming and delightful states in the world. The boundaries of the state span from the subtropical northern border with Queensland to the extra moderate Victorian border.

Queensland: Queensland is bisected by the Tropic of Capricorn, and is rightly known as the Sunshine State of Australia. The Capital of Queensland, Brisbane, is one of the fastest emerging cities in Australia and it provides an exceptional dais for touring the Gold Coast, popularly known as Australias Playground, and the Sunshine Coast which is famous for its surfing beaches, rainforests and elegant resorts like Noosa.

South Australia: South Australia is overwhelmed with adorable attractions to allure the visitors. Adelaide, the state capital of South Australia which is renowned as the City of Churches, is a lovely small paradise and is perhaps quainter than any other mainland capital.

Tasmania: Tasmania, the Apple Isle, showcase glorious lakes, majestic mountains, rivers, beaches, waterfalls, and much more. It makes a strong statement about how effortless it is to go across the whole island in just a matter of few days. Historic settlements of the quaint stone cottages that have been transformed into comfy and cherished accommodation dot the landscape.

Victoria: Victoria is Australia’s smallest and the most densely populated state with Melbourne as its Capital. Melbourne, dominated by trams, is a fine medley of old European sophistication and the trends of the modern world. This small State, tenderly known as the Garden State, reaps a strong advantage from its comprehensive road network and is therefore great for a touring holiday.

Western Australia Western Australia is the largest of all Australian states. Perth, the City of Lights, is the Capital and the largest city in Western Australia. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate all-year-round and is surrounded by gorgeous gardens and reserves which are in deep contrast with the Outback terrain lying beyond them.

Living in Australia

When it comes to accommodation in Australia, there are following four options to choose from:

Short term accommodation:

This is a helpful option when you first arrive in Australia and need time to settle there. You can look for hostels or hotels offering the discounted price. Alternatively, you can go for temporary housing offered through your institution while you get settled after getting the study visa for Australia.

Rental:

Secondly, you can rent or lease an apartment of property that you can share with your friends. Sharing with friends make it a cost-effective and luxurious option for accommodation. You will need to talk to the real estate agent and get a bond signed that held to repair any damage to the property while renting. The partial or full amount may be refunded to you once your tenancy agreement has terminated.

On Campus:

Most of the universities, colleges, and institutes offer fully-furnished and on-campus apartments to the students including meals and cleaning. This is the best option to minimize travelling time and cost. For this, you have to contact institute’s staff directly.

Homestay:

This is another best option for younger students who want to enjoy full house amenities. Here, students have to stay with an Australian families offering homestay accommodation. A whole screening is conducted to check whether or not the house environment is perfect for students.

Food

Australia offers a fantastic and diverse range of food for the students who want to study in Australia. A variety of fruits and vegetables are available in Australian produce markets. As a result, students face no difficulty in finding the foods they used to fancy at home as the market caters to a varied population.

Currency

Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency, with 100 cents making a dollar. The banknotes in use are A$5, A$10, A$20, A$50 and A$100. The Coins used are the silver-colored 5 cent, 10 cents, 20 cent and 50 cents and the gold-colored A$1 and A$2 coins.

Transport

Students who want to study in Australia may benefit from less expensive and easy transport system. Australia has a comprehensive public transport system which comprises of trains, buses, tramways, ferries, two major national airlines and a large number of regional airlines. To go with it, and there is an extensive network of metered taxicabs running round-the-clock in major cities and towns. All transport terminals, main hotels, and shopping malls have taxi stands; or else, you can hail one in the streets.

Everyone should know all these information before applying for a study visa for Australia

Student Visa Sub-classes and Assessment LevelsOn the basis of the education sector of your principal course of study, the Student Visa Category in Australia is divided into seven subclasses. There are five Assessment Levels in the student visa program. The motive of these Assessment Levels is to align student visa requirements to the immigration risk posed by applicants from a particular country studying in a particular education sector.

Assessment Level 1 symbolizes the lowest immigration risk while the highest risk is represented by the Level 5. The higher the Assessment Level, the greater the evidence an applicant is required to demonstrate to support their claims for the grant of a student visa.

Subclass 570 (AL-3) – Independent ELICOS Sector For international students undertaking ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) as a standalone course, and not as a prerequisite, to commencing another course (for example, a degree course)

Subclass 571 (AL-2) – Schools Sector For international students undertaking a course of study at a primary or secondary school, including both junior and senior secondary school

Subclass 572 (AL-3) – Vocational Education and Training (VET) Sector For international students undertaking a course of study at a technical/trade college, resulting in the award of a Certificate I, II, III or IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma

Subclass 573 (AL-3) – Higher Education Sector For international students undertaking a course of study at a University, resulting in the award of a Bachelor Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master by coursework

Subclass 574 (AL-1) – Master’s and Doctorate Sector For international students undertaking a course of study at a University, resulting in the award of either a Masters Degree by Research or a Doctoral degree

Subclass 575 (AL-1) – Non-award Foundation Studies/Other Sector For international students undertaking a foundation, bridging or another course which does not result in the award of a Degree, Diploma or other formal qualification

Subclass 576 (AL-2) – Aus AID or Defense Sponsored Sector For Aus AID or Defense-sponsored students undertaking full-time study for the whole or part of an education or training course offered by an Australian education provider

Currently, assessment levels serve to align student visa requirements to the immigration risk posed by applicants from a particular country studying in a particular education sector. The higher the assessment level, the greater the evidence an applicant is required to demonstrate to support their claims for the grant of a student visa. Further information about student visa assessment levels can be found on the department’s website. See: www.immi.gov.au/students/student-visa-assessment-levels.htm

NOTE: With effect from 24th March 2012, the applicants will be assessed as though they are lower migration risk (similar to the current Assessment Level 1), regardless of their country of origin under SVP (Streamlined Visa Processing).

Process for Australia Student Visa

We at Globizz provide you a few steps to undergo the procedure of getting Student Visa for Australia:

Step 1: Apply for Admission to Australian College/University

Identify your academic needs and career goals. Accordingly, start researching on the web about the best colleges/universities offering the best courses of your interest. Also consider location, tuition fee, and course duration while researching. Once you are finalized with education provider, apply online for admission in same. Along with application form, you will be asked to submit evidence of your academic documents and English Proficiency. Some courses will ask you to appear for interviews with college persons. The offer letter will take a few working days for processing.

Step 2: Evidence of Financial Support

One offer letter is received; you need to show your financial ability in form of evidence of sufficient funds to cover tuition, travel and living costs. The Assessment Level (course subclass) of the student determines the number of funds required, provider of funds and how long the funds must be held. If you have dependents (such as a spouse and children), you need to show evidence of being able to cover living costs for them.

Note: Sometimes you need to submit evidence of financial support at the time of applying for offer letter. Requirements vary from college to college.

Step 3: Pay Tuition Fee and Get Confirmation of Enrolment

Once college approves your funds, you need to pay your 6 months tuition fees (as mentioned in your offer letter), ELICOS (if applicable) and cost of OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover). After you have accepted your Offer and paid mentioned funds, you will receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) by email. It confirms that an international student is eligible to enroll in a course and start with the process of Australia student visa. This will outline your course start date, total course fees and total duration of course.

Step 4: Undertake Medical Examination

Afterward, you will need to undergo a medical examination by one of the doctors approved by the Immigration Australia. A list of doctors approved by the panel can be found here: (http://www.immi.gov.au/Help/Locations/Pages/India.aspx). Select doctor according to your convenience.

Step 5: Visa Lodgment

To be granted a student visa, you must complete a visa application forms, pay the visa application charges and all required documents. The documents required are – Statement of Purpose (SOP), Copy of passport, IELTS score card, COE(s), all academic documents, work experience (If any), photographs, visa fees, Sponsors Id proofs, their occupation proofs, and visa application form. All these documents must be appropriately arranged. Visa processing time will vary depending on your type of visa according to Assessment Level that you are applying for. Your student visa will last for the duration of your studies, including holiday periods.

How Globizz helps you with this Process?

In order to get the student visa for Australia, you should be careful at every step. The single mistake can create the huge mess with your visa application. At Globizz, We can help you navigate through various processes available to make studying overseas a whole lot easier.

Here is how we help you:

• We provide you a FREE Counseling session (Telephonic/In-person) to help you choose a right college/university and an industry-oriented course in Australia.
• We guide you through the process of applying for offer letter and we take the responsibility of tracking the applications by staying in touch with the institution on your behalf.
• Just like your admission application, Globizz helps you lodge your visa file. We will keep you updated on the progress of your application and will track your application on your behalf.
• We help you arrange all your documents properly as instructed in student visa checklist.
• We will notify you as soon as we get to know the outcome of your visa application.
• At Globizz, we can help you organize your travel arrangements to begin your new student life in Australia. Air ticketing, insurance, and foreign exchange can all be arranged through us to make studying overseas easier and a once-in-a-life experience.

Streamlined Visa Processing Arrangements

One of the principal recommendations of Mr. Knight Review of the Student Visa Program is that the streamlined visa processing arrangements must be made available for prospective international students with a Confirmation of Enrolment from a participating university and SVP colleges in Australia at Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degree level.

With effect from 24th March 2012, the applicants will be assessed as though they are lower migration risk (similar to the current Assessment Level 1), regardless of their country of origin. Under the streamlined processing arrangements, universities can be confident that the majority of their students will have their visa applications processed quickly.

In addition, student visa applicants applying under the streamlining arrangements will generally have reduced evidentiary requirements. Streamlined processing will help universities to support increased numbers of high-quality, genuine international students and will help to make Australia a destination of choice for international students.

Streamlined processing arrangements are not available for students enrolled in:

• Short courses
• Associate degrees
• Graduate diplomas
• Graduate certificates
• Non-award courses
• Courses below Bachelor level delivered by universities which are dual sector (VET and University).

Streamlined processing arrangements are available for students enrolled in:

Our study visa consultants for Australia will help you get placed in any of the colleges and universities that come under SVP.

• Bachelor degrees
• 2 plus 2 (or 3 plus 1) arrangements with partner universities
• Masters degrees by coursework
• Masters degrees by research
• Doctoral degrees
• English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) and/or foundation and other preparatory courses, including Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, which are explicitly packaged with an eligible university course at the time when the offer of enrolment is made.
• Semester or yearlong non-award courses at a university in Australia as part of their home university’s degree course and/or as part of an agreed student exchange between universities.

NOTE: If you have received a letter of offer from a participating university but not a COE, you are not eligible for streamlined visa processing

Participated Universities in SVP along with their educational business partners

Out of the 42 operating universities in Australia, 41 are currently participating in the streamlined visa processing arrangements. Here are universities and colleges SVP list Australia.

See: www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015L00537

What is GTE (Genuine Temporary EntranT)?

The DIAC introduced the GTE criteria on 5th November 2011. It is a genuine temporary entrance criterion for admission in universities and colleges under SVP in Australia that was established to ensure that the applicant applying for a student visa is a genuine applicant and intends to gain an effective educational outcome.

Following Factors count under GTE criteria:

• Academic Background
• English Language Ability
• Financial Capacity
• Course selection & previous history
• Immigration history
• Study gap & Age
• Applicant’s current circumstances in India
• If the applicant is minor, the DIAC will verify the intention of parents of legal guardian
• Course background
• Personal ties in Australia
• Current circumstances of Partner (secondary applicant)
• Relation of Main & Secondary applicant
• Interview – student career goal, why he/she selected this course, why this university or institute, why Australia, etc.

Fund Requirments

Student Visa Living Costs and Evidence of Funds

International students are required to demonstrate and/or declare that they have genuine access to sufficient funds to be granted a Student visa. Applicants may have to demonstrate sufficient funds to cover these expenses for the first one or two years in Australia, depending on their assessment level. See: Student Visa Assessment Levels 

This helps to ensure students are better able to make the most of their studies and have a safe and enjoyable experience in Australia. Funds should be sufficient to contribute to the cost of travel, tuition, school costs of any dependents, and living costs.

The financial requirements per year outlined in the tables below apply from 1 July 2012

Student Guardians

Application Visa Fee:

• DD of Rs. 30,200 or AUD $535 in favor of Australian High Commission, payable at New Delhi
• DD of Rs 925 in favor of VFS services, payable at Chandigarh or Delhi (Depending on the location of the student)

For more information see: www.india.embassy.gov.au, www.immi.gov.au